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Click Here 42 °F Forecast | Road Cams Saturday, January 31, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find a Rental Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Email Story to a Friend January 15, 2004 Human services face steep cuts if tax hike fails By JONEL ALECCIA Mail Tribune At least 11,000 of Jackson County’s most vulnerable residents — the young, the old, the pregnant and the poor — will lose health services if voters overturn a legislative tax increase Feb. 3, officials said. Several thousand more — including addicts and the mentally ill — may no longer receive treatment for their conditions if Ballot Measure 30 fails. Health officials this week detailed the expected effects of Jackson County’s share of $207 million in directed cuts from the state Department of Human Services. Even veteran bureaucrats were surprised at the scope of the losses. "I’ve never imagined anything so bad in my life," said Hank Collins, director of Jackson County Health and Human Services. Advertisement "I don’t know if they think they have to make the blood flow in the streets to get people’s attention," he added. Opponents of an $800 million tax increase said the Legislature should have looked harder internally to find less painful cuts. "It’s the process of weaning ourselves from this ridiculous amount of taxation," said Bryan Platt, chairman of the Republican Party of Jackson County. "I still think the state has reserves to take care of its moral responsibilities." Voters on Feb. 3 will decide whether to uphold the Legislature’s tax plan, which includes a temporary income-tax surcharge and other tax increases. The average state taxpayer will owe an additional $111 a year for up to three years if the measure passes. The plan was a compromise hammered out last summer to balance the state’s $11.5 billion budget after $2 billion in revenue losses. Mail-in ballots will go out starting Friday. Most of the expected cuts would fall on users of the Oregon Health Plan, which serves about 20,000 Jackson County residents, or about 1 in 10 people, officials said. About 3,000 low-income adults not covered by Medicaid would lose all OHP services. Another 1,250 poor children would lose health coverage, as would about 100 pregnant women who earn between 133 percent and 185 percent of the federal poverty level. Dental and vision coverage would be eliminated for 6,250 county residents who are eligible for Medicaid. Nearly all of the cuts target those with the fewest resources and the most to lose, advocates for the county Commission on Children and Families told Jackson County commissioners Wednesday. CCF members urged commissioners to endorse Measure 30. "I feel a moral responsibility to come to you and say this affects particularly vulnerable families," said Juli Di Chiro, a commission member who is also superintendent of the Ashland School District. "The effect on those families is disproportionate to the rest of the population." Platt said he hoped that any cuts would be mitigated by calling legislators into a special session. But Gov. Ted Kulongoski this week said he would not call lawmakers back to Salem. Platt, who expects the measure to fail, said he believes the cuts are the painful consequences of a societal slide toward socialism. "It’s part of a belief that government is going to take care of us from womb to tomb," he said, adding later: "There’s no easy answer. There’s no answer that’s going to be a smiley face for anyone." What would be cut? Jackson County health officials expect the following cuts if Ballot Measure 30 does not pass: Loss of all Oregon Health Plan coverage for 3,000 low-income Jackson County adults who are not covered by Medicaid. Loss of dental and vision care for 6,250 Jackson County residents who are eligible for Medicaid. Loss of health coverage for 1,250 low-income children. Loss of two-thirds of state support for acute psychiatric care, amounting to about $600,000 for Jackson County. Elimination of health coverage for 100 pregnant Jackson County women between 133 percent and 185 percent of federal poverty level. Loss of prescription drug assistance for 335 low-income seniors and people with disabilities. Elimination of mental health and addiction services for all low-income adults. Jackson County typically serves about 4,700 addiction clients and about 8,600 mental health clients each year, DHS figures show. Elimination of publicly-funded gambling treatment affecting about 125 people over two years. Loss of Healthy Start services for 52 families of first-born babies. Elimination of welfare and medical coverage for people caring for dependent related children. — Source: Jackson County Health and Human Services Reach reporter JoNel Aleccia at 776-4465, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback 3 WEEKS FREE! ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S RESOURCES Oregon Road Conditions & Cams SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Food for Thought Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities Prime Times